Mystery & Adventure

 

Magoon, Kekla, and Bea Jackson. The Secret Library. Thorndike Press, a Part of Gale, a Cengage Company, 2024.

In Magoon's The Secret Library, a reader is taken on an adventure full of mystery, family history, time travel, and even pirates! As the protagonist, Dally, uncovers more secrets in this mysterious library, she learns more about her family, processes her grief of losing her grandfather, and learns more about herself along the way. This coming-of-age adventure is full of tension that is caused by unexplained events. Along Dally's journey, there is tension behind the decisions her and her family make as well as tension as she navigates unknown parts of the library vault. 

Through this journey, Dally learns more about herself, and she changes as a result. She not only breaks rules and goes against her mother's wishes, but she finds the bravery to stand up for her family's history, leading her to make a crucial decision towards the end of the story. The Secret Library is action packed from start to finish. It is truly an intriguing page turner! At times, the pacing felt too quick, trying to go through 200 years of family history in one book, but Magoon was able to tie it together nicely through her vivid world-building. Readers will bond with the characters and prose, holding attention throughout the entire story.

Magoon invites the reader to explore their own feelings of identity, self-discovery, and even race and gender norms. She is able to utilize humor to break up some of the heavier topics. Dally has a palpable joy, even in the harder moments. While this book is geared towards middle grade readers (ages 8-12), older readers that are fans of adventure will still enjoy this read! 

Heidicker, Christian McKay, and Junyi Wu. Scary Stories for Young Foxes. Henry Holt and Company, 2019.

Younger readers are introduced to horror and suspense in Hedicker's Scary Stories for Young Foxes. This is not one story but rather a collection of short stories, following young kits as they encounter several classic horror characters as they try to safely get back home. Since this is a horror novel, there is tension throughout the read. With a blend of realistic fears (such as predators in the woods) and supernatural fears (witches, ghosts, and zombies), this book will keep a reader on their toes until the final page. 

While overall this book is fun for a thrilling read, there are also themes to discover throughout. A reader will be able to reflect on bravery, friendship, trust, and navigating a difficult and scary world. Walking away from this book, a reader will be reminded that sticking together is the best way to overcome a challenging situation. 

Since this is action-packed and suspenseful while also being broken up into eight short stories, the plot moves at a pace that keeps the reader engaged without being too quick. The creation of this world, with other kits being "observers" just like the reader, helps hold the interest of the reader. There are even short chapters in between stories, where the kits react to the story that the storyteller just told, and some even choose to leave before the stories get any scarier. Breaking up the stories in this way also helps younger readers step out of the unknown world for a moment to compose themselves before the next chapter. This style of book engages the reader to participate in the story. A reader is able to participate in the mystery and anticipate what might happen in the next short story. This book would be ideal for middle grade readers, ages 8-12. 







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